Stranded patients advised to contact Irish pharmacies for advice

Patients who are stranded abroad and who are running low, or have run out, of medications, have been advised to contact their local pharmacy in Ireland for advice.

Liz Hoctor, President of the Irish Pharmacy Union, said: “Irish pharmacists have received calls from many of their patients who are stranded abroad due to the cancellation of flights. These patients are extremely worried because they are running out of prescription medicines.”

Ms Hoctor said: “It is very important that people continue to take the medicines that have been prescribed for them. Many medicines have different brand names in other countries and this can cause confusion when a patient tries to get a prescription from a doctor or goes to a pharmacy in a foreign country.”

Irish pharmacists can advise patients of what active ingredients their medicines contain, making it easier to ensure they buy the correct medicine abroad, even where it carries a different brand name.